2022 MINI Countryman

　　

2022 Mini Countryman Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　It comes as no surprise that Mini's biggest model is little in comparison to its rivals. The 2022 Mini Countryman is a small crossover SUV that offers more passenger and cargo space than any other Mini, but it remains cramped when measured against similarly priced competitors.

　　Mini says the Countryman will hold five adults, but four will undoubtedly be happier. Cargo volume measures as much as 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat, with items stacked to the roof. Fold it down, and the Countryman can swallow up to 47.6 cubic feet of whatever you need to haul. This is considerably less than what you can shove into, say, a Mazda CX-5, but the appeal of the Countryman has never been fully tied to utility anyway.

　　Mini sells four distinctly different versions of this SUV. Each includes a turbocharged engine, but with vastly different power output and performance. All-wheel drive is available, and there is a plug-in hybrid electric version offering about 17 miles of electric range before switching to gas-electric hybrid operation and returning an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in combined driving. Every Countryman is nimble and enjoyable to drive, though the standard engine accelerates sluggishly.

　　Where the Countryman shines brightest is with regard to its personality and personalization options. There's nothing quite like a Mini Countryman in terms of its exterior and interior design, and if you custom order one, you can combine paint, stripe, wheel, roof, upholstery and trim selections in a way that almost guarantees you won't see another exactly like it.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar spent a year testing a 2018 Mini Countryman SE Hybrid. While the Countryman has received a number of updates since our test ended, most of our impressions and observations still hold true. We found the Countryman to be quick and relatively fun to drive, though as a whole it left us wanting a little more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Countryman drive? The Cooper S version, which is what we tested, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 7.1 seconds. Our biggest gripe with the Countryman's acceleration is the engine's lazy response when pulling away from a stop. Once underway, the turbocharged engine is punchy around town and helpful getting up to highway speeds quickly. The Countryman's brakes provide solid stopping power for panic braking but are occasionally grabby and abrupt in slow-moving traffic.

　　As you would expect, the best part of the Mini Countryman's driving experience is in the way it handles a twisty road. The steering is accurate and gives you a decent feel of the road. Overall, the Countryman is fun and can easily cruise down a back road quicker than most everything else in the class.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Countryman? If you're at all familiar with the Mini driving experience, the somewhat firm ride will likely go unnoticed. But buyers new to a Mini might find the ride bordering on stiff. The front seats feel firm and a bit confining at first but ultimately offer good support over longer distances.

　　Road noise is commendably low, but the Countryman's near vertical windshield and frameless side windows create noticeable wind noise. Engine and exhaust sounds are nicely subdued and only enter the cabin when you're driving more aggressively.

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